Steven and Leslie’s road to parenthood through surrogacy wasn’t without its hurdles. Their search for a surrogate was met with the added challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down clinics and put everything on hold. But their determination paid off. After finding a match, they discovered twoplus Applicator Extra, which greatly assisted their surrogacy process. Incredibly, they conceived their son, Finlay, on their very first cycle.
In this interview, Steven shares their story, including advice for others on their path to parenthood, whether through traditional means or surrogacy. He emphasizes the importance of ovulation tracking for those hoping to conceive.
Read on to hear the inspiring details of their successful journey to fatherhood.
twoplus Baby - Finlay, Son of Steven and Leslie.
“We have been planning and preparing for him for what feels like forever, and now that he’s here, I have fallen in love again. “ - Steven
Steven Shares How The twoplus Applicator Was Used During His Surrogacy’s Conception
Interview responses were edited for clarity.
Q: Hi, Steven, tell us a bit about yourself! How old are you and your partner? What do you both work as?
A: My name is Steven and my husband is Leslie. We live in Scotland and have our own business here in Falkirk.
Q: Congratulations on getting pregnant with the twoplus Applicator Extra! Tell us more about your surrogacy journey.
A: As far back as I can remember, we have always wanted children. We had previously gone through the adoption route; however, for us, it felt a bit too complicated at the time. So I read some articles about surrogacy and thought that perhaps we should ask our friends and family to see if anyone would like to help us out, and it turned out that my sister-in-law wanted to help us.
Before COVID-19, we travelled up and down to the London Women's Clinic, a private service for starting families in the UK. We spend thousands of our savings just for our progress to disappear with the pandemic. Again, I returned to the drawing board, looked for at-home insemination kits, and found twoplus Fertility.
Q: What were the challenges you faced in your surrogacy journey?
A: One of our biggest challenges is finding someone willing to carry our child. In the UK, Surrogacy is an altruistic act, meaning that it is illegal to pay someone to carry a child. Another challenge was the waiting! We began our journey in 2017, so it has been a long wait, and then when the pregnancy started, the months seemed like an eternity.
*The twoplus note: If you need help managing stress on your conception journey, read our post on “8 Ways To Keep Your Mental Health In Check While Trying To Conceive.”
Q: Were you diagnosed with any medical conditions relating to fertility by a licensed healthcare professional, and what tests did you do?
A: We were fortunately not diagnosed with any medical conditions.
Q: How did you first find out about twoplus Fertility? E.g., Google, Instagram, recommendations from friends or family.
A: We discovered twoplus Fertility while searching the internet. I had been researching at-home insemination kits to see their effectiveness and if they were even a thing. It stood out that we could have them here in the UK! [twoplus Fertility] also looked very professional and considered the comfort and ease of the person trying to get pregnant. I won’t lie, I purchased some cheaper alternatives on Amazon, but I am told they were nowhere near as comfortable and came with a complicated list of instructions, so save yourselves a headache and go with the Applicator Extra.
Q: Was the Applicator Extra easy to use? Was it uncomfortable after inserting, and did you have any trouble using the fertility tool?
A: I can’t describe my experience as I wasn’t the one to use the Applicator Extra. I am told, however, that it is very comfortable, and when used with the lubricant, it was made even more accessible.
Q: How often did you use the Applicator Extra before your surrogate got pregnant?
A: Believe it or not, we only used one Applicator Extra for one cycle. It worked the first time on the first try, which I understand is very lucky! I would suggest tracking their ovulation cycle to the person trying to get pregnant. I feel this helped prepare the egg to be fertilized.
*The twoplus note: If you need help with ovulation tracking, read our all-in-one guide on “How To Track Your Ovulation and Boost Your Odds of Pregnancy.”
Q: Did you adopt any lifestyle changes to improve your odds of conceiving?
A: The only lifestyle changes I made personally were a change in my diet, exercising a little more, and taking fertility supplements for men. Male fertility tests are available in some supermarkets and pharmacies in the pharmacy section.
Q: Would you recommend the twoplus Applicator Extra to other people who may have difficulties with natural conception?
A: I would recommend twoplus to couples/ surrogates trying to conceive. twoplus is available in the UK and comes professionally prepared and clinically safe. I honestly cannot believe that it worked the first time for us. Before going through expensive private clinics or waiting years on the NHS waiting list, try the twoplus Applicator Extra. It’s not too pricey; you don’t have to order loads, and much thought and care has been put into these products.
Q: What would you have done differently if you could return to the beginning of your TTC journey?
A: If I could return to the beginning of our conception journey, I would genuinely have started with twoplus. Back in 2017, I didn’t even know these products existed. If I did, I would have tried sooner and would likely have a 6-year-old by now.
Q: How has life been with your baby boy so far? What's your take on fatherhood?
A: Life with Finlay has honestly been unbelievably surreal. We have been planning and preparing for him for what feels like forever, and now that he’s here, I have fallen in love again. Even though he doesn’t do much other than eat, sleep, and poop (he’s only two weeks old), he has made every sacrifice and every frustrating wait worth it. It feels like I have known him my whole life. My mother raised me, and I have never met my father, so I have had nothing to compare fatherhood to. My favourite part is seeing my husband become the father he was always meant to be. I do know, however, that children only need 3 things in life- a place to call home, patience, and love.
Planning For A Baby Of Your Own? Try the twoplus Applicator Extra
The twoplus Applicator Extra helps individuals or couples navigate the complexities of conception. If you find yourself facing challenges in starting a family, whether due to infertility issues, surrogacy journeys, or other circumstances, the twoplus Applicator Extra could be a valuable tool for you.
As Steven and Leslie experienced, traditional fertility procedures can be a financial burden due to expensive clinic fees. In contrast, the twoplus Applicator provides an affordable and accessible alternative that can be used in the comfort of your own home. Its ease of use and affordability make it an appealing option for those seeking another path to parenthood. If you resonate with Steven and Leslie's story and seek a cost-effective solution to aid your conception journey, consider the twoplus Applicator Extra.